Magixx, Seyi Vibez, Bloody Civilian… artistes to watch out for in 2023

As Afrobeats continues to rise and edge itself in conversations among the top music genres in the world, it has consistently seen the emergence of ingenious artistes bending its brilliance further every year.

From the pool of young musical voices that intently made their voices heard last year, TheCable Lifestyle examines 9 artistes to watch out for in 2023:

Seyi Vibez

Seyi Vibez has been bubbling within the Lagos music underground for the past years. He has established himself as one of the most genuine and new voices on the street that tells the gritty stories of the Lagos working-class suburbs.

With songs like the mercurial ‘Normally’, ‘Bamishe’ and Zlatan-assisted ‘Professor Peller’, the Ketu-born musician showed an affinity for the street and enormous talent to push boundaries.

In 2022, his big break into mainstream fame came with the release of his ‘Billion Dollar Baby,’ the 11-song album. It included chart-topping songs like ‘Chance’, ‘Bullion Van’, and ‘+234’.

His brilliant rise is prime to continue into 2023 when he will hope to consolidate the success of the album and finally grip a spot in the mainstream.

Bloody Civilian

Emoseh Khamofu aka “Bloody Civilian” is a singer/songwriter and producer signed with Def Jam. Her brilliance is relatively obscure to the wider Nigerian audience but the Abuja-born 25-year-old was one of the few Nigerian artistes tapped for the ‘Black Panther: Wakanda Forever’ album.

She co-produced and sang on ‘Wake Up’, alongside Rema. Her debut single ‘How To Kill A Man’ has continued to gather airplay across the country.

Magixx

Born Alexander Adelabu, Magixx was one of the latest voices that sprinkled more lush inflection and rhythm into the Afrobeat scene last year.

He was signed to Mavin Records in late 2021 with an eponymous EP, which included ‘Love Don’t Cost A Mine’ — a track which has been remastered with record mate Ayra Starr and became an anthem during the 2022 Valentine’s season.

The University of Lagos (UNILAG) graduate followed the success with another EP this year. Titled ‘ATOM’, the 4-song project housed ‘All Over’ — a club-banging hit.

Magixx influence has swollen immensely and it will grow further in 2023.

TI Blaze

Akintunde Abiodun Timileyin aka ‘TI Blaze’ belongs in the brilliant category of the young emerging voices of the street whose sound resonates more profoundly with the working-place folk on Lagos mainland.

He exploded into the airwaves in early 2022 after Olamide jumped on his heretofore slow-burning song ‘Sometimes’.

The song remix aligned stars for the 22-year-old Lagos-born singer. He released one EP — ‘Fresh Prince of Lagos’ — and his debut album –‘El Major’.

Boy Spice

Another Mavins Record signee, Ugbekile David Osameke simply called ‘Boy Spyce’ began his musical career as a social media sensation making cover versions of popular songs.

He signed for Mavins in 2022 and released an eponymous EP which included tracks like ‘Nobody’ and ‘Dreams’.

Under the tutelage of the music executive Don Jazzy, Boy Spyce is expected to fully explode into the airwaves in 2023.

Soulaar

Soulaar is a vibrant new artiste signed by Ejoya Music in 2022. He went on to release ‘Bam Bam’, his debut single, shortly.

The song has continued to make waves across streaming platforms and has earned the UNILAG graduate a live session on Glitch Africa.

2023 definitely holds better things for Soulaar.

Lade

Lade scored her first hit with ‘Adulthood Anthem’, a viral song which resonated with the realities of several Nigerians.

She followed the track with ‘Merchant of Melodies’, a five-song EP which featured Made Kuti and Crayon.